Bell-Irving, Alan Duncan (Air Commodore)

Survived 1916-November-03

Male Head

Birth Date: 1894-August-28

Born: Vancouver, B.C.

Parents: Henry Ogle Bell-Irving & Marie Y del Carmen Beattie

Spouse: Mary E. Keith Falconer

Home: Vancouver, B.C.

Enlistment: Valcartier, Quebec

Enlistment Date: 1914-June-24

Decorations: MC & Bar, CDGF, OBE

Order of the British Empire Military Cross Bar Croix de Guerre France

Service

RAF

Unit

60 (F) Sqn- Squadron (RFC)

Base

France

Rank

Air Commodore

Position

observer, later pilot

Service Numbers

29185

Bell-Irving was seconded to the RFC, from the CEF on 1915-11-22, as an Observer with No. 7 Sqn, RFC. He was wounded in action on 1915-12-14, and after recovering from his injuries he trained as a pilot (RAeC cert#. 2264). He was posted to 60 Sqn to fly the single-seat Morane-Saulnier. On 1916-10-15 he shot down his final victims, and on 1916-11-03 was shot down for the 3rd time in his career and was severely wounded in the legs, ending his active flying career. He returned to Vancouver after the war, married and went into business. With WWII he joined the RCAF and served as commanding officer of No. 1 Bombing and Gunnery School at Jarvis, and then the RCAF Central Flying School at Trenton. He ended the war with the rank of Air Commodore, and once more returned to Vancouver.